Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-06-25
MY MARYLAND"
THE LOCAL EDITOR WRITES ABOUT LIFE
SCENES IN THE MONUMENTAL CITY,
AND OF SOME MARTINsBURG
PEOPLE WHO RESIDE THERE.
BALTIMORE, JUNE %, 1887

monuments and baseball enthusiasm,
may prove of interest to the readers
of the INDEPENDENT. Few persons
find room to complain of 9 dull, I'M
interesting times 5" in Baltimore.
There is nothing prosaic about life
here. While Martinsburger misses
the balmy breeze. the clover-perfum-
ed air, the quietude and pleasant
Tuesday evening band serenades of
his home among the mountains, he
finds untold enjoyment in the hub
bub and excitement which daily make
up the essence of existence in the
city. There is not an hour in the
day when pleasure and excitement
cannot be found here. Whether in
the park, where the industry of the
citizens and the wealth of the city
have collected countless curiosities,
and the hand of Nature has weaved
the ground and forest into fantastic
and pleasing shapes and fashions ; at
the theatres, where many of the events
of life are enacted in mimicry; on
the bay, with blue expanse of water
at your feet, and the white-winged
vessels of commerce passing and re-
passing-at these places, and in
thousand other ways, one can spend
months and months, and yet find
plenty to amuse, instruct and enjoy.
Then, warm, generous people dwell
here. Formally is scarce. There
is warmth in the grip of the aver
age Baltimorean's hand, a cheerful,
hearty welcome in his voice. You
imagine you are at home. But this
kind spirit is too well known to need
further description. To fully appre-
ciate it, one must be among the cit
liens. The hospitality and the en-
tertainment, for which the Southern
people are so justly esteemed, are
nowhere more manifested than in
cold Maryland" and especially in
Baltimore.
The great games of ball between
the st. Louis and Baltimore teams
were a source of wonderful excite
ment Nowhere in the Union is
more interest taken in the games than
in this city. From morning to night
you hear nothing but ball talk.
Children have the matter on the
brain ; young ladies and gentlemen
use it as suitable topic for CONVEX
sation; old men talk knowingly
about the merits and dement's of par
ticular players. Indeed, | am be-
ginning to feel quite interested my
self But, to return to the series of
games first above mentioned The
st. Louis champions play ball to win.
They care not how they gain the
game. To look at them before play
ing, their appearance is apt to leave
an impression with you that they are
all gentlemen. But meaner ,rougher
set of men it would be difficult to
unite. Welsh, the centre fielder, is
a regular bruiser while Comiskey the
Captain, would resort to any means
to win the game. 1t is this rudeness
and intentional brutalism that makes
them so successful. But here in
Baltimore they ran against snag,
and when Welsh ran against Green
wood, of the home team, and knocked
him insensible, purposely, the Is 900
spectators came near mobbing him,
and but for the protection of the po-
lice, would have done him injury.
The Baltimore club is as good play
ing club as the st. Louis, and with
an impartial umpire and gentlemanly
conduct on the latter's part, would
have won all the games. Kilroy is
an excellent pitcher, but in my
opinion, John Smith is his superior.
had pleasant trip to Bay Ridge
one day this week. Leaving the city
by steamer, the ride down the Ches-
apeal1e Bay is just too grand for any.
thing! The scenery is very pretty,
being for the most part through Bal
timore and Annarundel Counties.
Fort McHenry nestles in the eastern
suburb, with its grassy swards and
frowning breastwork. IL miles fur
ther, and you are within range ofthe
rusty old cannons of Fort Carol.
This fort is surrounded by water and
commands a surprising view of the
harbor and the entrance thereto. At
old North Point caught glimpse
of the landing place of Gen. Ross
army. After his failure to destroy
Fort McHenry, by water attack, he
landed there and marching up attack
ed the fort by land advance. The
scenes and incidents of that old at
tack, that called into rhyme "The Star
Spangled Banner" will never be for
gotten. All was quiet when / passed
by these forts, and in meditation |
viewed them. On down the bay, past